The Pianist of Willesden Lane Gala
London theatre news: Wednesday 7 September 2016
Charity - Gala
The St. James Theatre is hosting a gala performance of The Pianist of Willesden Lane in aid of World Jewish Relief on Tuesday 13 September 2016 at 7pm.
Photo: St. James Theatre
The Central British Fund for German Jewry (CBF) - the precursor to World Jewish Relief - were fundamental in the funding and organisation of the Kindertransport, helping thousands of Jewish children to come to Britain during WW2, escaping Nazi persecution in their home countries.
The Pianist of Willesden Lane is based on the true story of one of those children, Lisa Jura.
In February this year, The Pianist of Willesden Lane’s performer Mona Golabek was able to find out more information about her mother’s experience by finding Lisa Jura’s personal case file through World Jewish Relief’s archives, which contain 35,000 individual case files.
The gala night will raise money for World Jewish Relief’s Refugee Crisis Appeal, which is helping in Greece and Turkey by providing immediate humanitarian support such as winter clothing, emergency medical support and psycho-social support for people who have fled war-torn countries including Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Tickets cost £45 and include show ticket and post show drinks reception - 50% of ticket takings as well as money raised from bucket collections and other fundraising initiatives will be donated to World Jewish Relief.
About The Pianist of Willesden Lane
The show is based on the book The Children of Willesden Lane: Beyond the Kindertransport: A Memoir of Music, Love, and Survival by Mona Golabek and Lee Cohen.
Featuring some of the world’s most beloved piano music played live, The Pianist of Willesden Lane is performer Mona Golabek’s true family story.
The production is making its UK premiere at the St. James Theatre after critically acclaimed, sold-out runs in New York, Chicago, Boston, Berkeley, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
Synopsis
Set in Vienna in 1938 and in London during the Blitz, The Pianist of Willesden Lane tells the true story of Lisa Jura, a young Jewish pianist who is dreaming about her concert debut at Vienna’s storied Musikverein concert hall.
But with the issuing of new ordinances under the Nazi regime, everything for Lisa changes, except for her love of music and the pursuit of her dream - as she is torn from her family and set onto the Kindertransport to London.
This is a true story of family, hope and survival told through the world’s most beautiful music.
The Pianist of Willesden Lane continues at the St. James Theatre until 22 October 2016.
Photo: Peter Brown 2015
Venue
St. James Theatre
12 Palace Street
London SW1E 5JA
Dates
Tuesday 13 September 2016
Starts: 7-00 pm
Tickets
£45 (includes show ticket and post show drinks reception)
Links
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